As noted in the past, some of the newer songs used in our assemblies can have some okay lyrics while still being trite, and especially if they are used to manufacture emotions.
This week we opened our service with two songs. The second one was the solid old hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” It followed a “chorus” which I assume was to be a lead-in for it, and that first song is the topic of this post.
The song in discussion is Chris Falson’s “I See the Lord.” Take a look at the lyrics (which, by the way, we sang and then repeated - just in case you missed the idea the first time you sang it!):
I see the Lord seated on the throne, exalted
And the train of His robe
Fills the temple with glory
And the whole earth is filled
The whole earth is filled
And the whole earth is filled
With His glory
Repeat
Chorus
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord
Verse again
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord
Well, we repeated the whole thing, so it wasn’t done exactly as shown here (lyrics acquired from the Internet).
Now, I found the background for this song at Isaiah 6, so the words are sort of from the Bible. But there is one BIG problem: Isaiah was reporting on a vision of the Lord which he had, and neither the song-writer nor anyone singing this song has seen a vision of the Lord! So right off the bat the song is a lie, a figment of the song-writer’s imagination, and disqualified from being sung in the congregation!
While the first three lines are from Isaiah 6:1, the second three lines comes from Isaiah 6:3b: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Ah, but the lyricist had to get repetitious, with “the whole earth is filled” three times!! Why stop there? Couldn’t you manufacture more emotion if you repeated it a few more times?!??! Is this not similar to a vainly repetitious prayer?
We really need to quit using such trite songs in our worship!!
I am sorry you have to go through that. Are there no other churches nearby?
ReplyDeleteRecently we sang all four verses of "I sing the mighty power of God." Yes, 4 verses -- although Isaac Watts wrote it as 8 verses and for a children's hymnal. Try singing it to "Amazing Grace" or "Am I a soldier of the Cross?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMyp_V0E86k
Sir Mins
ReplyDeleteWell, this assembly is about the best in the area. I'd be mostly happy with them except for the music. About 1/3 of the time we do this sort of song, although this is first time they did this since we've been there (almost 2 years).
I can't understand why normally discerning people (like our pastor) fail to see problems like this. It really isn't all that serious, but it leads to worse stuff as people are desensitized.
Hm, given that Isaiah's response to this vision of the Lord seated on His throne, exalted was not bursting into song, but rather:
ReplyDelete5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
Perhaps we ought to consider that? Remember, it's not just OT prophets who recoiled in Christ's presence. What about Apostle John in Revelation 1:17a?
That's the trouble with out-of-context lyrics for Christian songs. :)
That said, I've admittedly sung this song in church without much thought, but it's not a song we've frequently encountered. Now that you mention it, I can see how these types of songs may not be the "worst", but they can desensitize people... which can lead to reduced discernment.
Again, hoping I'm coherent today...
-Carolyn